Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.tt
The family of 32-year-old Shakem Charles is offering a $15,000 reward for information on his disappearance.
In an emotional interview at their Indian Walk, Moruga home yesterday, Charles’ parents, Ronnie and Margaret Charles, said they were praying that he would return home soon. They confirmed that the Anti-Kidnapping Unit is handling the matter, but they had not received a ransom demand.
Charles, a part-time TT RideShare driver, failed to return home from work on Tuesday and the following morning his car was found abandoned in Valencia.
Charles is employed with a company that installs audio equipment. Three weeks ago, he bought a brand-new Toyota Yaris Cross and on Saturday he registered to be a TT RideShare driver to earn extra money to pay his car instalments.
Charles’ parents said he went to work in Port-of-Spain on Tuesday, and around 1.30 pm he called his mother and told her he was going to take up his second job as a RideShare driver before he came home.
His parents began calling his phone around 9 pm after he failed to return home in Moruga but kept getting a voicemail.
However, around 8.30 pm there was a $500 withdrawal from his bank account via an ATM machine at the Quikshoppe in Port-of-Spain. They said the police were reviewing CCTV footage and had interviewed the last person their son dropped off on Tuesday, which was in the Penal area.
His father said they had a prayer service on Wednesday night.
“We are just hoping and praying that he is alive and he will be found shortly,” said his mother as she broke down in tears. Charles has two children, ages six and four, who his parents said have been asking for him.
The parents said they had not been sleeping or eating since his disappearance.
“It’s very traumatic knowing you don’t know where he is alive or otherwise, bound up or whatever. You don’t have a clue,” lamented the father.
Appealing to anyone with information to come forward, Ronnie said he just wanted to find his son.
“I am just hoping and praying that he is alive somewhere, even if he is wounded, wounds will heal, but once he is alive,” sobbed his mother.
Members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Teams are also searching for Charles.